Omanghana
Ghana’s National Ambulance Service (NAS) operated for a significant period without adequate insurance coverage for its emergency vehicle fleet, forcing the state to absorb major repair costs whenever ambulances were involved in road accidents.
The revelation was contained in an official Auditor-General’s performance report on NAS fleet management, which highlighted serious weaknesses in vehicle maintenance, insurance management, emergency operations, and internal controls.
According to the audit findings, when ambulances were damaged through road crashes, the service failed to make effective use of insurance arrangements that could have reduced the financial burden on government. Instead, repair expenses were either paid directly from public resources or vehicles remained unavailable for extended periods while awaiting repairs.
Insurance Failures Put Pressure on Public Funds
The Auditor-General’s report identified the failure to utilize insurance protection as a major operational weakness within NAS.
Auditors noted that accident-damaged ambulances were not repaired promptly and that available insurance mechanisms were not properly activated to support restoration efforts.
The lack of effective insurance management meant that critical emergency vehicles were removed from service for longer periods, reducing the ability of the ambulance service to respond quickly to medical emergencies.
Fuel Challenges Delayed Emergency Responses
The audit also uncovered challenges affecting ambulance dispatch operations, particularly fuel arrangements.
Investigators found instances where ambulance personnel requested fuel money directly from patients’ families before responding to emergencies. The practice reportedly resulted in stressful negotiations at emergency scenes and contributed to delays in transporting patients who required urgent medical attention.
Auditors warned that such delays could undermine the core purpose of an emergency medical service, where rapid response is often critical to saving lives.
Ambulance Tracking System Found Ineffective
Another major concern identified by the audit was the failure of NAS’s real-time ambulance tracking systems.
The technology, which was intended to monitor vehicle movements and improve operational coordination, was found to be ineffective.
The absence of reliable tracking allowed some ambulance drivers to allegedly use emergency vehicles for unauthorized personal movements, reducing accountability and increasing operational risks.
Aging Fleet Creates Additional Pressure
The report further highlighted the deteriorating condition of the national ambulance fleet.
NAS currently operates approximately 323 ambulances distributed across 319 stations nationwide, but auditors found that most vehicles have exceeded their recommended operational lifespan of between five and seven years.
The aging fleet has contributed to increased breakdowns, higher maintenance demands, and growing pressure on available emergency response resources.
NAS Announces Major Institutional Reforms
Following the findings, NAS Chief Executive Officer Dr. George Kojo Owusu announced a major transformation agenda under the theme “Beyond Transport.”
The initiative seeks to reposition the ambulance service from a system focused primarily on moving patients to a comprehensive provider of advanced pre-hospital emergency medical care.
The reform program aims to improve operational efficiency, strengthen accountability, modernize emergency response systems, and address longstanding weaknesses in fleet management.
New Audit Committee Established
To improve transparency and strengthen governance, the Ministry of Health has inaugurated a new five-member Audit Committee to oversee NAS financial and administrative controls.
The committee will operate as an independent oversight body responsible for:
- Strengthening financial reporting systems.
- Introducing improved internal risk-management measures.
- Ensuring compliance with statutory requirements.
- Monitoring institutional accountability.
Officials say the reforms are intended to rebuild confidence in Ghana’s emergency response system and ensure that ambulances remain reliable, properly managed, and available when citizens need them most.
The audit findings have renewed calls for stronger investment, better maintenance systems, and improved governance structures to protect Ghana’s emergency healthcare infrastructure.
Source: Omanghana
